Carla Klehm

Carla Klehm is an Assistant Professor of Archaeology at the University of Arkansas, serving as Assistant Director of the Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies (CAST) and faculty in the Department of Anthropology within the College of Arts & Sciences. She directs international, multidisciplinary projects funded by NSF, NEH, NGS, and Wenner-Gren, focusing on archaeological applications of remote sensing and spatial technologies. Her position at CAST involves project design and management of geomatics applications for archaeology and digital humanities, including directing the NSF-funded Spatial Archaeometry Research Collaborations program and the NEH-funded Spatial Archaeology Residential and Online Institute.

Dr. Klehm earned her PhD in Anthropology (Archaeology) from the University of Texas at Austin in 2013, following an MA from the same institution in 2009 and dual BA degrees in Anthropology (Honors) and History from Northwestern University in 2006. Her educational background provided the foundation for her interdisciplinary approach to archaeological research.

Her research interests center on how remote sensing and scientific methods can address questions about human societies, particularly regarding inequality, long-distance trade, and human-environmental relationships. She directs projects spanning from southern Africa's early polities and Bronze Age European fortress networks to East Africa's megalithic monuments. Her work incorporates geospatial applications including geophysics, UAV-based sensors, satellite remote sensing, and digital storytelling. She also co-leads an ethics initiative to improve health, safety, and wellness in field research, collaborating with local museums and communities while incorporating indigenous perspectives.

Analysis of Dr. Klehm's publication record reveals a consistent focus on spatial archaeometry, African archaeology (particularly Botswana and East Africa), bead analysis, and field safety protocols. Her work demonstrates increasing integration of advanced technologies with traditional archaeological methods, showing particular innovation in adapting methodologies during pandemic constraints. The publications span prestigious journals including Nature, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and Current Anthropology, reflecting both disciplinary depth and interdisciplinary reach.

• 2022-Present: Academic Board Member, Institute for Field Research
• 2020-2021: AIA National Lecturer, Archaeological Institute of America
• 2010: Peyton Wright Memorial Award, Department of Anthropology, University of Texas at Austin

Dr. Klehm has secured over $1.3 million in external funding as PI or co-PI from major organizations including NSF, NEH, NGS, and Wenner-Gren. She currently supervises two postdocs and has served on multiple graduate committees for emerging African scholars. Her teaching includes undergraduate and graduate courses at four different universities, with upcoming courses including ANTH 1033: Introduction to Archaeology and ANTH 3903: Special Topics, African Archaeology.

Through the Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies, Dr. Klehm maintains an active research portfolio in spatial archaeometry and bead analysis involving coordination of dozens of students, professionals, and community members from multiple countries. Her SPARC program provides critical infrastructure for spatial archaeometry research, while her Digital Storytelling on African Urbanisms project creates innovative approaches to presenting archaeological narratives.